Right of reply to ZAM story

The following is an addendum, prepared as a right of reply by legal counsel for Dr Aloy Chife and the company Socketworks Limited, to ZAM’s story The Border Control Syndicate – How Plunder Continues in spite of Parliament and the Courts https://www.zammagazine.com/investigations/1414-nigeria-the-border-control-syndicate-how-plunder-continues-in-spite-of-parliament-and-the-courts, which was published on 22 July 2021. The publication of this addendum/right of reply takes place in terms of a settlement reached in out of court negotiations which followed a libel case brought against ZAM by Dr Chife and Socketworks.

RE - “Nigeria: The, Border Control Syndicate - How Plunder Continues In spite of Parliament and the Courts"

AN ADDENDUM

On July 22, 2021, ZAMNet Foundation published an article authored by one of its contributors, Theophilus Abbah in the online magazine ZAM. The publication under the heading "Nigeria: The Border Control Syndicate - How Plunder Continues in spite of Parliament and the Courts'' states in its introduction that "Entrenched interests, from top to bottom, have turned border control into a money-making machine for those at the head of the Nigerian Immigration Service. Partnerships with a number or private companies siphon off monies paid to them by the state as well as by visa and passport applicants."

In the ensuing paragraphs, the report specifically mentioned "Mr Chife" and "Socketworks Limited" in a manner that maligned and defamed both Mr. Chife and Socketworks Limited in context and structure by suggesting their culpability in the plunder that the report alleged was pervading border control contracts and management in Nigeria.

On behalf of Socketworks Limited and Dr. Aloy Chife, our firm, Legalfield Partners refuted the report as published. We emphasized that the aforesaid words and usage of some which unequivocally refer to a ‘Mr Chife’ and Socketworks Limited jointly and severally as part of the group of the plunderers of the fortunes of the Nigerian Immigration Service are defamatory in nature, character, and content owing to the fact that the report refers to them as an entity or associates of entities who run their businesses without moral ethics, integrity and who would do anything for profit including involvement in deadly exercises and business corruption.

We stated that the report by ZAMNet was authored with bias and caused to be written, presented and or published in such a manner to defame and malign both Dr. Chife and Socketworks Limited, as a person and a corporate entity respectively.

In view of the report, Socketworks Limited and Dr. Chife instructed our firm to commence an action for defamation against Zamnet Foundation, the publishers of the report. Dr. Theophilius Abboh, the author of the said report as well as Ms Ruona Meyer - line editor with the publisher. The defamatory publication thereafter became subject matter of pending litigation at High Court of Lagos State in Suit No: LD/ADR/3987/2022 -SOCKETWORKS LIMITED AND 1 OR V ZAMNET FOUNDATION AND 2 ORS.

However, following an out of court negotiation, parties to the suit determined and arrived at an understanding on the matter and it was agreed that the following facts be stated for publication by the Publisher as to the effect that;

I. Neither ZAMNet nor the Author consulted either Socketworks Limited or Dr. Aloy Chife with regards to the story in the manner and context it was published, even though the story was alleged to be based on an existing parliamentary report.

II. Dr. Chife is merely one of the Directors of Socketworks Limited alongside others and he played no personal role in whatsoever contracts that had been executed by Socketworks Limited for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS): hence, singling him out in the publication in the manner it was done put his person specifically in focus to bring him to disrepute. Socketworks Limited, on the other hand, never denied applying and or being awarded any contract by Nigeria Immigration Service but maintains that it discharged its duties/contracts satisfactorily. The work relationship is regardless of whatsoever personal relationships Socketworks's directors might have had with officers of the border control agency which in any event predates the period of any of its services offered to NIS;

III. Socketworks Limited provided services to Nigeria Immigration Service with respect to Nigeria E-immigration Solution as part of the Nigeria E­-Government's Initiative. However, the company was not involved in whatsoever manner with the 2014 deadly immigration recruitment exercise in which sixteen (16) job seekers died, as such the linking and paragraphs referring to the company in the said report suggesting otherwise, are incorrect and inappropriate.

IV. The reported NIS recruitment exercise of 2014 was a national tragedy which the general public has continued to adjudge with scorn, condemnation and that it was also subjected to parliamentary probes hence the sensitivity it engenders amongst the general public.

IV. The reported NIS recruitment exercise of 2014 was a national tragedy which the general public has continued to adjudge with scorn, condemnation and that it was also subjected to parliamentary probes hence the sensitivity it engenders amongst the general public.

VI. Companies and individuals have actually been prosecuted and while some have been discharged and acquitted, there have been convictions for offences relating to border control contracts. Neither Dr. Chife nor Socketworks Limited has been prosecuted or indicted for the alleged offence.

In view of the foregoing clarification and information obtained, the context and structure of the publication is inappropriate as it relates to Socketworks Limited and Dr. Aloy Chife hence their grievances against the Publisher and others. Neither Dr. Aloy Chife nor Socketworks Limited is keen to trample on press freedom and journalistic endeavours and their actions in approaching the court for redress based on the report/story was to assert their rights and protect their reputation.

The fact that Dr. Chife is a well-known social media advocate and public affairs commentator shows he is one who appreciates public accountability and good governance. The General Public is hereby advised to take appropriate notice with regards to this development on the published report and accord relevant references as the case may be. This statement is issued on behalf of Dr. Aloy Chife and Socketworks Limited;

Dated this January 18, 2024

Signed on behalf of Dr Aloy Chife and Socketworks Limited, for Legalfield & Partners, Jude Ehiedu Esq, and Deborah Ogundele, Esq.